It is always sad to have to get rid of a mature tree. When you do have to take that step, consider leaving a stump about 3-5 ft high to use as a pedestal for a pot or other art object to make a feature.

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others.
~~ Sharon Brown ~~

The management decided to chop down a tree whose roots were buckling a driveway and road surface. This doubled the amount of sun I have in my yard!

For whatever reason, they left that stump several feet high. I put potted-up plants there, or pretty rocks, decorative twisted roots and forked branches.

I'm working on greatly improving the horrid clay and pathetic raised beds around it, and developing a Goddess Garden (one theme of white and pastel flowers, probably another of blue-violet and gold - I'll have to see what works).

I'll learn to grow some plants in big, permanent containers so I can move them into the Goddess Garden for their bloom period, and then away when they fade.

When it looks good enough, I'm going to move a statue of an angel (a gift) onto that stump in the center.

It's especially nice that the angel is carrying a horn-of-plenty that also looks like a basket of flowers.

We had two small trees in the landscape that needed to be cut down. DH thought I was crazy when I told him to leave "stumps". They're the perfect size for birdhouse posts or to lift garden art above the foliage!

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others.
~~ Sharon Brown ~~

I've seen that done. i don't know if there were holes drilled in the sides but that's a good idea. Or you could not drill the holes & put something in there that likes to be on the wet side. Then you would just have to water it when things get real dry. So one could go either way with it.

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others.
~~ Sharon Brown ~~

The stump with the small birdbath ( NOT the tall black fountin) Is near my ferns and epimediums.

I am definatly going to leave a taller stump when the next pine comes down. I like the variance in heights, not have stumps with pots all at the same height.Of course the bear is a different matter. It is sitting on a few rebar pins and has shimmes to keep it level. SIL and DD did this in mid winter.

Dutchlady1 said:Oh I like that idea. Must investigate....
(about the holes in the sides, that is - we crossed posts)

What my friend did wasn't with an actual stump... he took sections of trunk from a tree that had been cut down and drilled out/hollowed out the center, and/or drilled holes in the sides. So his were portable.

He said he tested lots of different woods -- not surprisingly, pine worked well, and oak was more difficult.

Me? My stumps are too skinny (maybe 4-6" diameter) -- I had two conifers that died in the last couple years. I left the stump at about 4' high. Put a birdhouse on one as garden art, and am waiting to see what I'm inspired to do with the 2nd one. They're maybe 10' apart from each other.

Northwest Georgia Daylily Society I'm going to retire and live off of my savings. Not sure what I'll do that second week. My yard marches to the beat of a bohemian drummer...

Cross posting is being called do-si-do by some. I think it's cute & apt.

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others.
~~ Sharon Brown ~~